I wake fairly early, I get moving as I don’t feel the need to stay much longer. We hit the road, but before we leave the area lets check out the other lake. There is an old building like a boat club, it is now part of the council I am not sure what they use it for now. There is boat access but no camping at this other lake. Off to the Waipoua Kauri Forest, I don’t stop for gas, it is rather low but I risk it. The forest is stunning, you can feel how old it is. There is quite a bit of Kauri die back, I am guessing that is why the visitors centre is closed. I miss heard Rowan and drive right past the Kauri Walk stop, we will have to do it another time. It is quite a long beautiful windy drive. Almost feels like you are leaving the forest then you come across Tane Mahuta which is a compulsory stop. Incredibly big, the boardwalk to it is well maintained and even has disabled access which is great to see. We are the only ones there, to take in the magnificent sight.

Carrying on, we stop in a small town for gas, it was rather low but no light on and easily made it. We get to Ōmāpere and lookout from the top, by this time we are ready for breakfast. Between Ōmāpere and Opononi there is a group of shops. We have breakfast at the Thai Restaurant, which sounds funny but they become more of a cafe during the day. The coffee and food is really nice, and has a good view from the deck. On the road again, I fly past a sign for Kotu Boulders. I am not sure how many u-turns I have preformed but quite a few on this trip. I follow the dirt road and we miss the turn off to them. Someone has taken down the signs, our guess is a local who doesn’t want tourists looking at them. Good ol’ google shows us where to go. Now don’t get excited these are a sadder version of the Moeraki Boulders and even those are not that exciting to look at. Don’t get me wrong it is cool to have a look at them once, but they get a lot of fuss for a mound of rock. These Kotu boulders don’t have the crystal inner and don’t get the same effect with lot’s of other rocks around. However we enjoy the leg stretch and the walk along the water.

Driving along we pop into Rawene, a place and a Dulux colour. We used this colour on our house in Spencerville. The town is quaint but quiet busy as there is a car ferry which runs all day. Back out we head for Kaikohe, it is rather busy there with the Twin Coastal Cycle Trail. We go to two op shops and find an ivory bead necklace (we collect ivory to remove it from circulation). From Kaikohe we head to Kerikeri for some lunch and of course a little op shop around. We make a plan to head all the way up to the Karikari Peninsula. We do take the scenic route past Matauri Bay. I enjoy the view and we make a few stops along the way. When we reach Coopers Beach we see the butcher and 4 square for supplies. I really don’t like the vibe here, and I am quite happy to leave. We decide to head to the furtherest point on the Karikari Peninsula which is Maitai Bay. You can’t go any further as it is Ngati Kahu, Maori land. It is well cared for and I am glad to see there is a Rahui (no seafood collecting) in the area. The DOC site is basic, but perfect for us. We choose the lower one. There is over a hundred sites here and must get rather busy in the summer. Rowan has a swim at Maitai Bay, I only get in up to my knees. We have a cold fresh water shower after. There is no nudity allowed at the camp so we keep our underwear on. We picked the perfect spot, thinking no one else will show up later than we have. How wrong we are, another 5 lots of people show up in their self contained vehicles. Nevermind it is only one night. There is however someone playing rave music and I swear it is the same song over and over again as the bass never changes.